The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Rivers State Chapter, has taken a complex turn as the Robinson Ewor led faction has issued a stern warning to Chukwuemeka Aaron and his group, accusing them of contempt of court.
The warning came after Aaron, insisted on being the Chairman of the Rivers State PDP, despite a subsisting High Court judgment nullifying the state, local government, and ward congresses conducted by his group.
Ewor, in a press release reminded Aaron that the court had declared their congresses null and void, emphasizing that his continuous occupation of the PDP Secretariat and claims of legitimacy to the party’s executive committee are illegal actions.
He also expressed concern and disappointment that the State Police hierarchy has provided cover for the illegitimate group, despite the court’s ruling being public knowledge.
He said: “We wish to remind Chukwuemeka Aaron and his co- travellers of a subsisting High Court judgment nullifying the purported State, lga and ward congresses conducted by his group in the State using the name of the PDP.
“Even when the congresses were conducted in fragrant disobedience to another court order stopping them, we as law abiding citizens never interfered in the activities of the illegal group until now that a Court of competent jurisdiction has declared the purported congresses as a nullity.
“Accordingly, we wish to warn the Chukwuemeka Aaron -led group to respect the ruling of the Honorable Justice of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt and desist from taking the laws into their hands through the continuous occupation of the PDP Secretariat as well as claiming legitimacy to the party’s executive committee and other illegal actions.
“We have noted with concern and disappointment that even when the Court’s ruling is of public knowledge, the State Police hierarchy still provided cover to such illegitimate so-called PDP executive to perpetrate their illegal act.”
He, however, appealed to law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police, to remain apolitical and not take sides in the political dispute.
Furthermore, he urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Ogbetokun, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, and other relevant security agencies to ensure that their officers operate within the law and do not aid or abet lawbreakers.
He added: “May we therefore use this opportunity to appeal to law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police in the State not to take sides in the political imbroglio, but remain apolitical. Taking side with a group whose action and inaction contravenes the provision of the law is to confirm that the law enforcement officers are actually the very ones aiding and abeting law breakers in the State.
“As law abiding citizens, we will like to appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Ogbetokun, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security, and other relevant security agencies to prevail on their officers and men in the to operate within the ambit of the law and not to be a party to those orchestrating breach of the law.
“We also appeal to our esteemed members and supporters to remain calm and refuse to be provoked by the antics of desperate political merchants who are trying hard to unleash mayhem on innocent law abiding citizens of Rivers State.”
